A joy of my college education is that I get to take additional classes to my major that have become more and more enjoyable as I approach the end of the undergraduate journey. A seed was planted as I walked through the halls of museums and cathedrals while in Europe during the fall of 2010. I now have within me a growing passion for Art and the deep-rooted history that encompasses all of it. I am currently in an Art History course and have decided to make my Theme Journal in blog form. The blog will save me some typing because you know what they say, "An image is worth 1,000 words." The underlying theme that I have chosen to pull out of art from different time periods is deity. Deity in religious context is the ultimate goal and curiosity. Engulf yourself entirely in the artwork and somehow make your personal connection, as will I.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Roman

 East Facade of the Ara Pacis 
Female Personification
Rome, Italy 13-9 BCE 

Panel from the East (Back) Facade of the Altar


The Ara Pacis Augustae, translated to mean "Altar of Augustan Peace" was commissioned by the Roman senate to be build in honor the established peace in the empire that came from Caesar Augustus's victories. The altar was meant to be a vision to civil Roman religion, envisioned as a Roman Goddess. 

Augustus was an advocate of the family life, and ultimate growth in his empire and kingdom. Children and the divine role of the family unit was brought into view a little more with Caesar Augustus's reign in the Roman Period. 

The Goddess in the paneled marble is Tellus/Italia, she being the goddess equivalent to "Mother Earth". Pax, the goddess of Peace, Ceres (goddess of grain), and even Venus have also been suggested to be the woman in the facade. Tellus/Italia is the popular choice from art historians and has the most identifiable symbols and surroundings. The seated Matron has two babes in her lap (Romulus & Remus- twins) epitomizing the fruits of the Pax Augusta. All around her the beautiful earth is in bloom, a setting so ideal and heavenly. On her left the fowls of the air are represented, on the right the animals of the sea, and near her feat the beasts of the earth- all different animal species living peacefully side by side. With the three Roman elements of Earth, Sky, and Water present it was to show her established peace over the whole world. 

The rear panel of a Roman altar dedicated to the divinity of this Goddess of Femininity said a lot about the culture of the Romans, it being very different from the usual male figures. The white marble softens the scene adding to the curvature of the lines. The drapery gives personifications of a refreshing breeze upon their bodies. The Roman detail of hair  and classical ideal beauty comes out within Tellus and the babes themselves. How wonderful it is to see such art work that establishes motherhood and procreation as a godly attainment. 

Ara Pacis Augustae
(Altar of Augustan Peace)



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